Overhead trolley.



J. H.y HWARD. OVERHEAD TROLLEY. APPLIGATIou FILED nov.1o, nos.

i VM f @lt/@Maw J. H. HOWARD. OVERHEAD TROLLEY. Prmowxou num Nov, 1o, 190s.

2 SHEBTB-BHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

SSS

OVERHEAD VTROILEY.

Bpeletion otettcrsrtcnt.

Application Med-November 1D, 190B. Serial No. 461,980.

I'otentedOct. 1.7, 1011.

To all whoiri it may concern: Be it known that l; JAMES -l-l. 'Hoivnno, e

citizen ofthe `United States, =residing 'et i Kansas, City, in -the bounty of 'ivllyandotte and Sinto of Kansas," have imentedfcertilm newr and useful Improvements /inOvei-ihend Trolleysfof whlclithe'following is nvspeelfication.

This inventionreln'tes to ovehendtrolleys for street and iilternilmn ca1's,fantlmyob ject to produce o trolleyqiolemlonnt of Such `charneter 'thatthe trolley Wheel is .caused to e ply n substantinlly uniform pressure on he trolley wire irresprietiv-eof the height of theilatter ebovethe cor."

A further object is lto provide `nftrolley pole freeto swing upanddown {nsflong ns the wheel 'isdn-engagement vwith the wire.

Another object 4is rto prof'vide "menne for locking the trolleypolerngainst material npwrclinovement in'tlle evet'thutthe trolley Wheel leaves the wire, and to produce ineens whereby the trolley pole may belnnlor-.ked preliminary to replacing the wheel against the wire. p p

With these general objects in view, und others as hereinafter appear, the'invention feonsists in certain fnovel and peculiar fcntures of construction and organizan ion as hereinafter described and claimed; 4:md order that it may be understood, refer-enr is to be hnd'to the accompanying drnwinggf., 'in which:

Figure 1,- is :i Afront View of the buse porltion of on overhead trolley embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is a central vertical src-.-

tion of the same. -ilfig. 8, is n View otono lend 'of thesiune Iilig. 4, a vertical seetion of e' iring-tensioninnr rnthet-wheel. Fig. 5, is :i view of the `upper end of the trolley pole with the trolley wheel :md lnup in sectinof theline V-V of Fig. .6. Fig. flisnview showing the upper end ofthe trolley-peleand a onlrmounted thereon in centnlf Tlmig-itudino'rl' section, und showing the trolley whee'lnnd het iin side'el'm'a-tio'n. Figif'', is an edgewjiew o' thetrollev wheel ltnd harp. lFig. "8, side niiew Vofwineof the contacts ofthe-trolley wheel. "Figli, Iis a side view'of-eneof 'the springs' of "the trolley Wheel.'4` 4 Inxthe saidfdrawings lindiontes n. ].)rei'fer'A ly hollow circuler hase provided with nn annular flange? through which bolts, not shown, are adopted to belitted'tosecllre the provided Vwith :1 control opening 3 and with e circuler 'rnccwny 4 concentrioully snrrounding opening 3.

-ind'iositcsinmp'fittingupon the buse and providedwithinn'opposing ruceway, find 7 'l ndiciites-bulls occupying said rnceways und constitutmgn conjunction therewith e bullbearingfo'r snchcup. "Rigid with the cop "5 is u stern'S ljournnlel in opening:1r 3 and on- `gagedfet'itsflower endby efretmning noti),

Aandrigidwvith said `steu'rnnd cup und above the hitter isfnlrnrwshnpcd lmr 10, its-ron euroffice being formed with forwardly-fam 'ing rutchet-teeth.

l-'l `indicates angle :i1-ins preferably enst withfnd projecting'laterally from opposite sides `of the rop, the lipwarilly-projecting portions of snidnngle arms being lsurmounl.- ed by bearing cnps `12 secured rigidly in posltionby bolts:` 13. Journnlled in the bearingsl formed by snidnrm-s and caps, is a. horizontol shaft L14 preferably reduced :it its ends, as shown, und rigidly secured innny suit-able manner on .Said` shnft, near each end, is n ratchet-wheel nliprovided with a hub 16, having one `or inorefholes 17 -1nto which a Vbei' o1"1ever,not shown, nmy'be Inserted for the purpose of'turnin'g seid'wheel.

To gourd Vu-g'ggni-nst beck `rotation -of the ratchet-wheel, or downward .movement of the trolley-.pole hereinafter referred to, the :mns 11 cnrrydogs 1S, boltsI 19 secured to seid arms, forming pivotal supports for seid dogs, the Efront ends of the dogsbeiug preferably weighted-es :it `20to hold the dogs yieldlngly in engagement with lthe ratchet wheels. f yThe -shoft I4 is ferrari ed `axially withrespecttoltlie rntcheeber Gand centrally isfformed orprovided with@l circular exil-f ugement 21 vertielly ebovetherntchet bor, which enlnrwenient `practically forms the brisent' `the trollleypd'e, ais ii-t isvprovided `witl1'nrrinlialtubular projection 22 to form n,

socket foijthe reception v of @the .pole 23 and in equipped with. n. stesnrew E4; toi secure the -fpole relnil'ily'to seid socket. Inithe vertical plaine-of tl1e1-ateh'etbar,the bese 21 of the trolley pole is `provided with a. relatively 'large opening 25 communicetingwith the passage of the trolley pole through' a smell passage 2G whiehby preferencel'is angular'in cross-sectiom Fitted upon the shaft the bfi-se of 'the Atrolley sp1-inge?? and 28, of said springs etV opposite sides of pole `is "a pair of the inner or adjacent ends terminating in inwardly# projecting portions 2t) `and 30 res actively, engaging a hole 31 in thebase of t ic trolley pole. The opposite ends of said sprirgs terinilnite i in out\\'ardlyprojeeting portions 3'. and :it resxectivclv cnvafin sockets y a a et I 63 1n the limer faces of the hu s,ot the end oi' a rod 3S extending through and pro-- jecting beyond the upper end of the trolley pole, the lower end ot' the rod being preferably angular in cross section as at 3U so' as to litv nonrotatably in the passage QG. *The dog is out oi" engagement with the ratchetbar l() when the trolley polo occupies an operative relation to the trolley wire, not" shown, and is adapted to be swung downward beyond the periphclfv oi' the said base lof thevtrolley pole -and engage the ratchetbar in the event of the trolley wheel leaving the wire. it being obvious that the swing of the trolley pole is adapted to dispose the dog 255 opposite dillercnt teeth of the underlying rate iet-bar. In any position that the pole occupies, the ratchet-bar brdgcsand closes that part'. of the opening 25 provided to accmnmodate the pivotal movement ot` the dog; the remainder ot' such opening, which should be relatively large in order to pe 'mit the dog 35 and link 37 to be secured in position, is closed by a bridge plate 35 sceured in place by screws 35", the plate serving as a water and dust guard. The rod 38 extends slidingl y through a nut 40 engaging an externally-threaded cap 41 tilting in the upper end of the troliey-pole 93, Aand suirounding Ithe projecting end of the rod is a. helical spring'42 bearing atY its opposite. ends against nut 40 and the collar 43 rigidly scoured on the rod, the tendenyy of this spring being to slide rod upuard to cause the og 35 to swing do\vx1' \va1'd and engagethe Jatchetjbar ylttL The tension of spring 42 may be varied'by adjusting nut 40.

'44 is atubular cap'or head fitting on the upper end of tlietrolley pole and secured rigidly thereto byscrews 45z and through the closed oeupper'end of` said ca the rod 4cap s` formed with a'nupwardly-projecting arm 46 braced by a rib 47 and equipped 4with a pivot bolt 48, on which is ivoted a coui pllng consistilng;` of a vertica Vtfubular por` LOOBSSQ. y

The trolley harp is of bellci-ankshape in side elevation, that is, comprises a air of horizontal arms 51 and a pair of epending arms 59, the pairs of arms at their junction points being formed with circular enlargements 53 with convex outer sides. The front ends of the arms 51 are pivoted on a. horizontal bolt 54 extending through the tubular arm 50 of the coupling hcreinbefore described, 4ach-cular convex-faced nut 55 engaging the threaded end of, said bolt and fitting in a socket 5G in the outer face of the adjacent arm 51,` the nut preferably being ot' that typewhich is adapted to be turned by a Spanner instead, of an ordinary wrench,

that is to say, it is provided with holes 57 to receive the arms of the Spanner. The armsl 51 are provided with inwardly-projectingarms Sterminating in segmental portions at) in line with -and rearward of the rod 3S, `said' portions 59 being curved conecntrically of pivot Vbolt 48 so that they shall always be in position to exert a downward and torwardl, pressure on rod 38, and projecting from the segmental portions 59 ot' said arms are ears (i0 bolted rigidly together at 61. The circular enlargements 53 of the harp a're provided centrally with `threaded openings' 62 to receive steel or equivalent bearing caps G3, provided by preference with holes 64 to receive the arms of a spanner 'utilized for screwin the caps in and out of position, and sai caps are provided with lnternal grooves 65 to form resem-oir,l for a lubricant such as grease or solidilied'oil.

(to is a preferably aluminum spindle or Ishaft journaled in the caps and rigidly secured onsaid lspindle or shaft is a trolley wheel tti' provided With circular recesses 6B in opposite lsides for the reception of carbon or equivalent disks 69.

T() indicates contact plates engaging the outer faces of the carbon disks and provided with arms 71 which lit. by preference on pvoeholt 5t at opposite ends of the' cou-y pling arm 50.

,72 indicates springs winch *alsoV preferably tit'on bolts 54 between arms71 and the sides of the harp` and Isaid spring-sare pref erably provided with heads 73 which encircle thebearingcaps and press the contact -platea liriuly against the carbon disks,

and the said springs are preforabl y provided with inwardly projecting pins '-twhich extend through said contacts and into carbon disks to hold the latter stationar Under the pressure of the springs a goo electrical connection is maintained between thccarbon disks and the trolley wheel. i

75 Vindicates a bolt connecting thel arms 52 below 'the trolley wheel 'and enga-godet its threaded end by aV s anner-nut76, and 77 is a' sleevejournalet in said-bolt .between said arm to act as a brace for the latter and a means` of connection for the trolley rope, not shown. y

lfVhen the parts are properly assembled and the trolley wheel is enga ing the trolleyr wire the resistance oilered hy the wire is greater than that of spring 42 and hence,

the trolley harp is swung downward and the portions 59 force rod 38 dowmvard and thereby effect the withdrawal of dog 35 from the ratchet bar 10, the iarts. maintainiing this relation as longr as the trolley wheel 4is engaged with the wire, and it will he noticed in this connection that as the car rounds a curve the harp will swinglaterally on pivot 48' to eoinpel the trolley wheel to track more perfectly with the curving trolley wire and more reliably maintain its enga'genient with the latter. By thus permittinglthe wheel to accommodate the 'curves of the wire, the former is subjected to less wear and the latter less lateral straius.` Should the trolley wheel leave the wire accidentallyl from any cause, the springs 2i' and 2R. or the one which is exerting the upward pressure at the time, will start'the pole upward hat such movement is checkedaluiost instantly, because the instantthe trolley wheelleaves ithe wire, spring 42 forces rod 38- upward and hence causes doggr 3&3 to engage the ratchet-bar 10 and lock the pole, By thus checking the pole almost instantly chance of injurious contact of the trolley pole with cross wires is reduced to the miuilnuun As the conductor pulls downward `onthe ropa to lower the trollo wheel, the harp swi downward and tj rough its portions $5!) forces rod 38 downward so as to. overcome the resistance of spring 42 and withdraw the -do ,,r from 4enga ;en1ent,with the ratel'iet-bar,

this action being,r instantly followed by downward move: ont ofthe pole itself.. The pull on the rope holdsl the parts in this position so Athat as the rope is paid'out again to effect the rengagement of the trolley $5 wheel with the wire, the dog ii.. not relea. -;edv

and cannot check suoli movement ot the pole, as the pull of the rope on the harp has the saine ellj'ect as Ythe resistance of the wire when the trol ley wheel is engaging the same.

From the above description` it will he apparent tliatl have i-roduced an overhead trolley embodying tie features ol' advauf tage enumcrattul as desirallile alul which is obviously suscel'itihle of modiliration without departing from the principle and'sco )e or sacrificing any of the advanlages of l' le invention.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim as new and desire to sec-ure by Let'- ters Patent. is:

l. .'\n overlu'aa 'rollcy comprising a hase, a cap arranged lo rotate horizontally on saidv hase, a ratchet-har to turn willi sai: cap and ha ving,` its toothed face concaved vand disposed upwardly, a trolley polo providedk with a base bearing a pivotal relation to said cap and adapted to operate in a vertical plane, means' .'or exerting a, yieldingr upward pressure on the trollev pole, a trolleywheel, a harp carrying said wheel and hearing a pivotal*relation to the pole and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a spring-elevated rod carried by .said pole adapted to be yieldingly depressed by said harp, a doteIr pi-votcd to the base. of the pole. and a connection between said rod and dog forcausinp,f the latter to swing out of or into engagement with the ratchethar accordingly as Said rod Vis dev pressed or elevated. i

2. An over-head trolley comprising a base, a cap arranged to rotate horizontally on said hase, a ratchet-harto turn with Vsaid ea Vand having its toothedl face coneaved-iam din;-`

posed upwardly, a trolley-lmlc Iprovided with a base bearing a pivotalrelation `to saidg'ca-p and adapted to operate vin a verticalfplane, means for exerting a yielding upwardp-ressure ontlle. trollev pole, a rod slidingly ar-` rangedinl the trolley pole, a dogpivoted to the base of the trolley pole and pivolally linked to the lower eli-d ofsaid rod, aspriug tending to slide'said rod upwardlyY to cause the dog to engage the ratchet'bar, a harp pivoted for vertical movement to the upper end of the pole and provided 'with a portion for engagement with the upper endof said rod,l and a trollel wheel carried by said harp.4

3;. .ln overhead trolley comprising a. hase, a ca p arranged to rotate lifm'zout'ally on said hase, a ratchet-har to turn witliv said cap and having its toothed face coneaved and dlsposed upwardly a trolley pole provi-ded with a base bearing a pivotal ielation to said cap and adapttalkto operate in a vertical plane, means for exerting aA yielding upward pressure on the trolley pole,Y a rod sli'dlngly ul'- ranged 1in the tro ley pole,a dog pi-votrd to the hase of the" trolley pole aml-pivotally linked to the lower engl ol' said rod,a spring ,lending lo slide said `rod upwardly to cause the dog to ,engage the ratchet-lair; a harp pivoted to the upper end oi the 'polo and capable ofswingihg vertically andi laterally and` provided with a portion for engagement with this ul'per end of said withal-ul a trolleyl wheel joui-nailed in the harp5 L An overluaid trolley comprising a base, a cap alvrangedio rotule, horizontally on said hase, a ratchet-bar to turn witlisaid rap and having its tooll-lcd face concaved and disposed upwardly a. trolley pole prmtided with a base bearing;` a pivotal relation to said capi and adapted to operate in avertiealplane, means For exerting a yielding upward pressure ou lln. trolley pole, a dog' pivotedfto the hase oi' the lrolli-.y )ole and pivotally-linlttal lo the ,lower end oi said rod, a spring;` tendiup,r to slide' said rod upwardly to cause the dog to engage thoratchet-har; a,V harnniyoted to the upper end of the pole and caable of swinging vertically and laterally an provided vvith a portion for engagement with the upper end of said rod, a part carried by the harp rearward of its pivotal point; for

connection with a trolley rope, and a trolley plane, a plurality of springs exerting up-` ward pressure on the trolley pole, means for individually tensioning said. springs, a trolley wheel, :1 harp carrying said wheel and bearing a pivotal relation to the pole and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a spring-elevated rod carried by said pole and adapted to be yieldingly depressed by said `-harp, a-dog pivoted to the base of the pole, and a connection between said rod and dog `for causing the latter to'swing out of or `finto engagement with the ratchebbar ac- ',cordingly as said rod is depressed or ele' vated.

6. An overhead trolley, comprisi g a base a cap arran ed to rotate horizontal y on Sai base, a ratc et-bar rotatable with said ca and having its toothed face concaved and disposed upwardly, a trolle pole provided with a base bearing a pivota relation to said cap and adapted to operate in a vertical plane, a plurality of springs Vexertin upward pressure on the trolle pole, ara hetwheel connected tol one en of each of said springs, tobe turned to tension such springs means to prevent accidental back rotation of each wheel, a trolley wheel, a harp carrying the pole and ada ted to swing in a vertical plane, a spring-e evated rod carried by said saidhar a dog pivoted to the ase of said wheel and bearing a pivotal relation to pole and adapted to be yieldingly de ressed y the pole, an a connection between said rod and dog for causing the latter to swing out of or into engagement with the ratchet-bar accordingly as said rod is depressed or elevated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. HOWARD.

Witnesses: y

FRANK R. GLOVE, G. Y. IHoRPEj. 

